StretchLab is a first-of-its-kind business in Minnesota that’s helping people do something many of us don’t do enough of: stretching.

“Most of the time when people, say their back is sore. Usually their hamstring, or their IT [band] or their glutes or something is tight,” said Heck.

Karla and Shawn Van Drehle opened the franchise in Plymouth. There’s a second location in Minneapolis and a third is coming soon to Maple Grove in the next six to nine months.

“Something that really sells us is that it’s for everybody,” said Karla Van Drehle. “It doesn’t matter, men, women, what age you are. If you work out a ton. If you’re a corporate person, if you’re a student-athlete. It’s for every body.”

StretchLab Provides Really Deep Stretch

StretchLab focuses on the kind of stretching we can’t do on our own. Specially-trained workers called flexologists are here to help.

Anna Twinem showed myself how the stretching works. First, she pulls and shakes out the legs to warm them up. She then applies pressure to the legs, until you feel about a 7 out of 10 on the pain scale.

“You want tension, but no pain,” said Twinem.

Twinem does a special stretching technique called proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), which contracts and relaxes the muscles several times to give a really deep stretch.

“Consistency is key. Whether it’s once a week for 50 minutes or twice a week for 25 minutes,” said Twinem.

Individualized Stretching for Every Age

StretchLab has a special computer that uses a camera and sensing technology that measures your movement while squatting, then standing straight. The scan shows areas of your body that need improvement. Mine revealed tightness in the hips and hamstrings.

CCX Media is a service of Northwest Community Television serving the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota, including Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.